It was the 80’s, a quiet suburb of Port-au-Prince, where thr… Read Full Bio ↴ZENGLEN
It was the 80’s, a quiet suburb of Port-au-Prince, where three friends who were destined to make history in Haitian music met. Every afternoon, a young Brutus would sit on his front porch and play the guitar. Garry Didier Perez, and his friend Patrick Martineau, often noticed him and one day invited him to come over Patrick’s house. They would meet every afternoon to listen to all genres of music and interpret their favorites. During one of their rehearsals, some beer bottles fell off an amplifier that was vibrating and shattered into a million pieces. The guys laughed at the fact that Patrick would have a hard time cleaning up the many tiny pieces off the granulated floor. They all exclaimed ZENGLEN (which means tiny pieces of broken glass) and from that day on this was their band's name.
In 1989, the trio recorded "Koule Tan" (the color of time). Once completed, they took some tapes to several radio stations where hosts and listeners would become fans and fall in love.
Zenglen became one of the wonders of the early 1990’s as they released the hit song "Fidel" off of the album "An Nou Alèz." In the song the band said that “change” is never easy and always faces obstacles, and resistance, but that they pledge to remain faithful (Fidel) to their mission which is to improve and modernize the Konpa rhythm.
The Konpa world was introduced to their new found stars like the guitarist and singer Brutus Derissaint and the lead singer Gary Didier Perez among others. In the song "Fidel" the band said: "Sé konsa se konsa se konsa la vi ya ye lè ou vle met chanjman reziztans tèt chaje." Unfortunately after a U.S tour most of the band’s members abandoned ship and the band broke up into pieces like a real Zenglen.
In Miami Brutus never stop caressing the dream of keeping some of the pieces alive and had moved on with some attempts like the Zenglen Plus and a few solo albums in the 1990’s. Many musicians tried to help him to collect the pieces, but they often moved with their own projects like the creation of the band D-Zine. Nevertheless Brutus never lost faith and still remained fidèl (Faithful) to his mission by hiring more talented musicians each and every time. At the end of the century the acquisition of the drummer Richard Herard (Richie) and then singer Gracia Delva took Zenglen to the level of a very competitive Konpa band in the demanding market as they released the album "Easy Konpa" with nothing but major hits song that were going to move the band to the front burner of the industry. Ever since that time Zenglen hasn’t looked back despite the so many changes of personnel that occurred.
The album "Easy Konpa" was introduced to the public with the release of the video of the hit song "5 Dwèt" which boosted Zenglen to the top of the konpa scene. The song "B.S Productions" got the attention of the public as the song talk about unqualified show producers damaging the reputation of the bands. On that same album the band touched some subjects until then taboo as they talked about lesbians in the society in the song "Flannè Femèl" and drug used in the song "Ti Poud."
In the following years Zenglen continued to amaze the Konpa fans all over the world with the releases of the albums "Let It Groove," "Do It Right," "5 Etwal." The latest album, "5eme Vites," sung by current lead vocalist Kenny Desmangles, touches subjects on society, relationships with top notch konpa, and proved again why critics have praised them as the Konpa University.
Over the years the Konpa observers have seen broken pieces that continued to break in even more pieces, but the band remains solid and true to their mission: Zenglen doesn’t change…Zenglen improve. Like they often say in their songs “Sé pa changé nou changé, se pi bon’n vin’n pi bon.”
Zenglen Pran Devan
Zenglen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ici Zenglen
He he hey
Anlè menm bato a
Gen pawòl mwen konn tande
M'pa kwè se verite jouk tan lavi montre m
Li pran m tan pou mwen
Aprann fò m g'on kote pou m kanpe
Klemay chante
Olye mwen viv ak kè sote m'prefere viv avèk le peu
Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse
Vi a g'on bò anmè li g'on bò dous
Ou pap janm kontan tout tan
Pa ka satisfè a sanpousan
Mande m m'a di w kijan
Kijan mwen fè konnen
Cho
Zenglen ki fè m wè rezon
Fò w g'on kote w kanpe The Fridge ou la wi
Nan bon tan kit nan move tan
Pa voye monte douvan douvan
Fè yon jan pou ou gen rezon
Ou di m an serrer les mains En même temps
Men w vle pran tout sa m genyen En même temps
Ou pa ka di m w'ap sèvi Bondye En même temps
Epi anyen w pa vle partaje En même temps
Ou pa ka di w pozitif En même temps
Epi tout sa w'ap fè negatif En même temps
Ou pa ka vle rive lwen En même temps
Epi w'ap kouri nan plizyè chimen
Fò w g'on kote w kanpe
Nan bon tan kit nan move tan
Pa voye monte
Fè yon jan pou ou gen rezon
Well well
Ou di m an n serrer les mains En même temps
Men w vle pran tout sa m genyen En même temps
Ou pa ka di m w'ap sèvi Bondye En même temps
Epi anyen w pa vle partaje En même temps
Ou pa ka di w pozitif En même temps
Epi tout sa w'ap fè negatif En même temps
Ou pa ka di w nan Zenglen En même temps
Epi nan tout lari w'ap mache plenyen
Zenglen se verite nan manti yo
Anmwey
Pi wo pi wo
Yon lòt nivo
Zenglen pi wo pi wo
Yon lòt nivo
Oh oh oh oh
Fanatik Zenglen mobilize
Tout moun chante en cœur
Pi wo pi wo Ou ka wè sa
Yon lòt nivo
Zenglen se verite nan manti yo
Yo mèt pale
Zenglen pran devan Gade m gade m gade m
Stabilite n'ap chèche M'oblije
Zenglen pran devan An han
Yo mèt pale Zenglen 2015 fwa pi rèd
Zenglen pran devan M'te di w sa
Stabilite n'ap chèche
Zenglen pran devan
Ou di m an n serrer les mains En même temps
Men w vle pran tout sa m genyen En même temps
Ou pa ka di w'ap sèvi Bondye En même temps
Epi anyen w pa vle partaje En même temps
Ou pa ka di w pozitif En même temps
Epi tout sa w'ap fè negatif En même temps
Ou pa ka vle rive lwen En même temps
Epi w'ap kouri nan plizyè chimen
Yo mèt pale An an ale pi douvan nou vize
Zenglen pran devan
Zenglen se verite nan manti yo
Stabilite n'ap chèche Oblije
Zenglen pran devan
Epi Zenglen pi rèd pi rèd pi rèd
Fidèl
Epi nou fin devlope l
Zenglen ki fè m wè rezon
Verite nan manti yo
The lyrics of Zenglen's song "Zenglen Pran Devan-2015" highlight themes of self-belief, determination, and the power of staying true to oneself. The song begins with Zenglen introducing himself and expressing his disbelief in anything that he hasn't experienced personally. He emphasizes the importance of taking time for oneself, learning to stand firm and stabilize in life.
The chorus encourages listeners to find their own path, whether in good times or bad, without succumbing to external pressures. It advises against being too focused on material possessions and encourages being content with what one has. The lyrics suggest that it's important to maintain a positive mindset, avoid negativity, and not try to please everyone. Zenglen also mentions the need to stay true to oneself and not get caught up in the opinions of others. He emphasizes that Zenglen represents the truth in a world full of lies.
Overall, the song encourages individuality, self-empowerment, and the pursuit of personal happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Salut
Greetings
Ici Zenglen
This is Zenglen speaking
He he hey
Expressing excitement
Anlè menm bato a
On the same boat
Gen pawòl mwen konn tande
There are words I often hear
M'pa kwè se verite jouk tan lavi montre m
I don't believe it's true until life proves it to me
Li pran m tan pou mwen
It takes time for me
Aprann fò m g'on kote pou m kanpe
To learn where I should stand
Fò m stabilize m
To stabilize myself
Klemay chante
Klemay sings
Olye mwen viv ak kè sote m'prefere viv avèk le peu
Instead of living with a jumping heart, I prefer to live with caution
Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Vi a g'on bò anmè li g'on bò dous
Life has its ups and downs
Ou pap janm kontan tout tan
You'll never be happy all the time
Pa ka satisfè a sanpousan
Can't satisfy everyone
Mande m m'a di w kijan
Ask me, I will tell you how
Kijan mwen fè konnen
How I came to know
Cho
Chorus
Zenglen ki fè m wè rezon
Zenglen makes me see reason
Fò w g'on kote w kanpe The Fridge ou la wi
You need to stand your ground, The Fridge (a popular Haitian artist) is here
Nan bon tan kit nan move tan
In good times and bad times
Pa voye monte douvan douvan
Don't show off
Fè yon jan pou ou gen rezon
Handle things in a way that makes sense
Ou di m an serrer les mains En même temps
You tell me to shake hands at the same time
Men w vle pran tout sa m genyen En même temps
But you want to take everything I have at the same time
Ou pa ka di m w'ap sèvi Bondye En même temps
You can't tell me you're serving God at the same time
Epi anyen w pa vle partaje En même temps
And you don't want to share anything at the same time
Ou pa ka di w pozitif En même temps
You can't say you're positive at the same time
Epi tout sa w'ap fè negatif En même temps
And everything you're doing is negative at the same time
Ou pa ka vle rive lwen En même temps
You can't want to go far at the same time
Epi w'ap kouri nan plizyè chimen
And you're running in different directions
Well well
Well well
Ou di m an n serrer les mains En même temps
You tell me to shake hands at the same time
Men w vle pran tout sa m genyen En même temps
But you want to take everything I have at the same time
Ou pa ka di m w'ap sèvi Bondye En même temps
You can't tell me you're serving God at the same time
Epi anyen w pa vle partaje En même temps
And you don't want to share anything at the same time
Ou pa ka di w pozitif En même temps
You can't say you're positive at the same time
Epi tout sa w'ap fè negatif En même temps
And everything you're doing is negative at the same time
Ou pa ka di w nan Zenglen En même temps
You can't say you're in Zenglen at the same time
Epi nan tout lari w'ap mache plenyen
And in every street you walk, you complain
Zenglen se verite nan manti yo
Zenglen is the truth in the lies
Anmwey
Wow
Pi wo pi wo
Higher and higher
Yon lòt nivo
Another level
Zenglen pi wo pi wo
Zenglen is higher and higher
Yon lòt nivo
Another level
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Fanatik Zenglen mobilize
Zenglen fans mobilize
Tout moun chante en cœur
Everyone sings together
Pi wo pi wo Ou ka wè sa
Higher and higher, can you see that?
Yon lòt nivo
Another level
Yo mèt pale
They talk
Zenglen pran devan Gade m gade m gade m
Zenglen takes the lead, look at me
Stabilite n'ap chèche M'oblije
We search for stability, I'm obliged
Zenglen pran devan An han
Zenglen takes the lead
Yo mèt pale Zenglen 2015 fwa pi rèd
They talk about Zenglen 2015, stronger than ever
Zenglen pran devan M'te di w sa
Zenglen takes the lead, I told you
Stabilite n'ap chèche
We search for stability
Zenglen pran devan
Zenglen takes the lead
Ou di m an n serrer les mains En même temps
You tell me to shake hands at the same time
Men w vle pran tout sa m genyen En même temps
But you want to take everything I have at the same time
Ou pa ka di w'ap sèvi Bondye En même temps
You can't tell me you're serving God at the same time
Epi anyen w pa vle partaje En même temps
And you don't want to share anything at the same time
Ou pa ka di w pozitif En même temps
You can't say you're positive at the same time
Epi tout sa w'ap fè negatif En même temps
And everything you're doing is negative at the same time
Ou pa ka vle rive lwen En même temps
You can't want to go far at the same time
Epi w'ap kouri nan plizyè chimen
And you're running in different directions
Yo mèt pale An an ale pi douvan nou vize
They talk, come on, let's aim higher
Zenglen pran devan
Zenglen takes the lead
Zenglen se verite nan manti yo
Zenglen is the truth in the lies
Stabilite n'ap chèche Oblije
We search for stability, we are obliged
Zenglen pran devan
Zenglen takes the lead
Epi Zenglen pi rèd pi rèd pi rèd
And Zenglen is stronger, stronger, stronger
Fidèl
Faithful
Epi nou fin devlope l
And we've finally developed it
Zenglen ki fè m wè rezon
Zenglen makes me see reason
Verite nan manti yo
Truth in the lies
Lyrics © B.E. RELATIONS PUBLISHING, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jean Brutus Derissaint
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind